Control device for liquid dispensing machines



Aug. 6, 1968 R. w. NEW 3,395,832

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINES Filed March 10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet l FuJJe/ W. New

I N V EN TOR.

ATTO/P/WSVJ United States Patent O "ice 3,395,832 CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIQUID DISPENSING MACHINES Russel W. New, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Meter-All Mfg. Co., Inc., Dallas, Tex., a corporation of Texas Filed Mar. 10, 1%7, Ser. No. 622,322 6 Claims. (Cl. 22214) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for controlling a liquid dispensing machine by stepping one of two parallel ratchet wheels an incremental distance for each unit of credit purchased, with the initial step serving to energize the dispensing mechanism. Stepping the second ratchet wheel in the same direction as the first an incremental distance as each volume of liquid is dispensed that corresponds to one unit of credit until the wheels are returned to their initial relationship to de-energize the vending machine.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to control devices for liquid dispensing machines generally and in particular to such devices that will accept units of credit in varying amounts and which will debit the credit established as each volume of liquid is dispensed that corresponds to each unit of credit until the credit established has been exhausted.

The control device of this invention is adaptable for use with coin or otherwise operated dispensing pumps. For example, the device of this invention could be adapted to control a gasoline pump to sell gasoline without the need of an attendant. Such a gasoline pump could be coin operated or it could be arranged so that the purchaser of the gasoline could buy a given amount of gasoline at a remote location, such as a check out stand for a supermarket or other type store. A credit in the amount would be transmitted by the cashier to the control device on the pump to allow the purchaser to dispense an equivalent amount of gasoline himself, when he leaves the store.

A coin operated dispensing pump is shown and described in Schneckenburger Patent No. 2,573,112, which issued Oct. 30, 1951 and is entitled Coin-Operated Dispensing Pump. The control device for the coin operated dispensing pump described in Schneckenburger patent employs a ratchet wheel, which is stepped in one direction to establish a credit. The ratchet wheel is moved in the opposite direction, as the liquid is dispensed, to erase the credit.

It is an object of this invention to provide a control device for a liquid dispensing machine where the credit portion of the device operates independently of the debit portion.

It is another object of this invention to provide a control device for a liquid dispensing machine that has a credit member that is moved to establish the credit and a separate debit member that is moved to establish the debit, with the relationship between the two members controlling the operation of the machine. In this Way, after a credit has been established in the device, liquid can be dispensed while additional credit is being established without interrupting the operation of either the credit or debit counting portions of the device.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a control device for a liquid dispensing machine having solenoid operated ratchet wheels for actuating the control switches for the machine in which the ratchet wheels are arranged to provide a mechanical advantage for the solenoids so the force output of the solenoids is less than the force required to actuate the switches.

3,395,832 Patented Aug. 6, 1968 These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this specification and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is an isometric view from one side of the control device;

FIGURE 2 is another isometric view of the device from the opposite side from that of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3-5 are views, on an enlarged scale, of portions of the credit and debit members in three different positions with the switches they operate and the devices controlled by the switches, the latter being shown diagrammatically; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view of the control device with the associated apparatus for operating the device when the device is arranged to be coin operated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The various components of the device, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, are mounted on plate 10. The device includes a credit member and a debit member. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the credit member comprises ratchet wheel 11 and the debit member com prises ratchet wheel 12. Means are provided to mount the members in parallel relationship for independent movement in the same direction. In the embodiment shown, the ratchet wheels are mounted on shaft 13 for rotation in parallel planes and in the same direction around the common axis of the shaft. Credit wheel 11 is free to move along the shaft toward and away from debit wheel 12. The upper end of shaft 13 is supported by bracket 27. Bushings (not shown) are located on the shaft below ratchet wheel 12 to hold it and wheel 11 above the mounting plate.

Means are provided for moving credit wheel 11 an incremental distance for each unit of credit purchased. In the embodiment shown, solenoid 14 has its movable core or armature 14a connected to pawl plate 15. The plate is supported on guide block 16 for movement parallel to a tangent to credit wheel 11. It is guided for this movement by key 16a which is attached to block 16 and extends through slot 15a in the pawl plate. It also is guided in its travel by a slot in guide blocks 17, through which the plate extends.

Pawl 18 is mounted on the end of the plate by mounting screw 19 around which the pawl can rotate. The pawl has a front lug 20 that is held in position to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel 11 by coil spring 21. The spring extends between post 22, fixed to plate 15, and rear lug 23 on the pawl.

Thus, as the plate is moved toward the solenoid by armature 14a, when the solenoid is energized, lug 20 engages a tooth on the ratchet wheel and rotates the wheel an incremental distance. When the solenoid is de-energized, solenoid spring 24 returns the armature, the plate, and the pawl to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. As the plate returns to the position shown, the ratchet dog will rotate around mounting screw 19 to allow lug 20 to move past one or more teeth on the ratchet wheel and back into position for moving the wheel another incremental distance. Rear lug 23 serves to engage the ratchet wheel, just as the solenoid reaches the end of its stroke, to stop the ratchet wheel for continuing to turn due to its inertia. The credit wheel is held against rotation in the opposite direction by spring finger 26, which is mounted on guide block 17.

Credit solenoid 14 is connected to pulsing means for energizing the solenoid for each unit of credit purchased. As shown in FIGURE 6, the credit solenoid may be connected to switch 30, which is actuated by coins deposited in coin slot 31. The coin slot shown has two openings 31a and 31b for receiving two denominations of coins, for example, twenty-five cents and fifty cents, respectively. Fifty cents slot 31b is arranged for the coin to actuate switch twice. Each time the cred-it switch is actuated, solenoid 14 will step credit wheel 11 one step and establish a twenty-five cent credit in the device. Other means could be used for this purpose, as long as it produced a pulse for energizing the credit solenoid for each unit of credit purchased.

Means are provided for moving the debit member, ratchet wheel 12, an incremental distance in the same direction as the credit member was moved, each time the means is energized. In the embodiment shown, debit wheel 12 is stepped in the same direction as credit wheel 11 by solenoid 32. Solenoid 32 with its core or armature 32a, pawl plate 33, and pawl 34 are assembled in the same manner as is the stepper described above in connection with the credit wheel. There is one exception however; pawl 34 is positioned so lug 35 will engage a tooth on ratchet 12 and move the ratchet wheel an incremental distance when the solenoid is de-energized and solenoid spring 32b returns the armature to the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. In other words, the credit wheel is moved on the power stroke, whereas, the debit wheel is moved on the return stroke. The solenoids move their respective ratchet wheels the same incremental distance each time they are energized. Spring finger 28 on guide block 29 holds the debit wheel against movement in a direction opposite to the direction it is moved by solenoid 32.

Debit solenoid 32 is connected to switch 36, as shown in FIGURE 6. This switch is actuated by finger 38 each revolution of shaft 37. This shaft is driven by the computer or counter (not shown) associated with the dispensing device that indicates the monetary value of the liquid dispensed. In other words, for each rotation of the shaft a given unit of value, say ten cents, or twenty-five cents, is registered on the counter and the debit wheel is moved one incremental distance. Usually, the unit of credit for each revolution of shaft 37 is the same as the unit of credit required to step the credit wheel one incremental distance. This would not have to be the case, of course, as the relative number of teeth and the distance the wheels are moved will depend on the circumstances. For example, if the coin slot was arranged to receive fifty cent pieces and the monetary value of one revolution of shaft 37 was ten cents, the debit wheel should have five times as many teeth as the debit wheel or the credit wheel should be moved five times for each coin deposited. Another arrangement would be to move the credit wheel five times as far as the debit wheel each time their respective solenoids are energized.

The dispensing machine will have some means for controlling the flow of liquid therefrom. For example, if it is a gasoline pump it will normally have a motor driven pump that will force the gasoline from the storage tank through a hose into the automobile tank. Therefore, means are provided to actuate the flow control means when the credit member is moved relative to the debit member to permit the pump to dispense liquid and to deactuate the flow control means, when the debit member has been moved the same distance as thec redit member, to top the dispensing of liquid.

In the embodiment shown, switch 40 is mounted on bracket 27 over credit wheel 11. Its switch arm 40a engages the ratchet wheel. Means are provided for changing the distance between the ratchet wheels to actuate switch 40, when the credit wheel is moved its initial incremental distance. In the embodiment shown, as best seen in FIG. URES 3-5, debit wheel 12 has opening 41 formed therein by bending tab 42 downwardly out of the plane of the ratchet wheel at an angle of about Credit wheel 11 has a similar opening 43 formed in the same manner by bending tab 44 downwardly out of the plane of the wheel at an angle of about 45 Tabs 42 and 44 are located radially the same distance from the center of rotation of the wheels so that, when the wheels are positioned as shown in FIGURE 3, tab 44 will extend through opening 41 and the credit wheel rests on the debit wheel.

In this position, switch 40 is open and pump motor 45 is de-energized. With the deposit of a coin through coin slot 31 and the subsequent energization of credit solenoid 14, credit wheel 11 is moved an incremental distance to the left, as viewed in FIGURE 3. For the wheel to move this incremental distance, tab 44 will have to ride up the inclined surface of tab 42 which causes the wheels to move from their original distance apart to a second distance apart, as shown in FIGURE 4. This movement moves switch arm 40a up far enough to close switch 40'. This energizes pump motor 45.

The machine is now ready to dispense liquid. This is usually controlled manually by the purchaser. For example, if the machine is dispensing gasoline, pump motor 45 will not begin to pump gasoline until the purchaser has placed the hose nozzle in the tank of his vehicle and opened the valve at the nozzle manually. At this point, pump motor 45 will begin to pump gasoline through the hose and into the tank.

As liquid is dispensed switch 36 (FIGURE 6) will be actuated each time a volume of liquid is dispensed that is the equivalent of one of the units of credit purchased. Debit wheel 12 will be rotated in the same direction as the credit wheel was rotated until they return to their original position, as shown in FIGURE 3. This will open switch 40 stopping pump motor 45. The switch could as easily operate a valve for the same purpose.

In the embodiment shown, flow restricting means are provided for reducing the rate the liquid is dispensed, as the debit wheel approaches the end of its rotation. Such means are provided to slow down the flow of liquid somewhat just before the pump stops.

Flow restricting throttle valve 46 is located in hose 47 for this purpose. Throttle valve 46 is controlled by switch 48. This switch, like switch 40 is mounted on bracket 27 above credit wheel 11 and is operated thereby. Tabs 42 and 44 move the wheels apart in two steps. In FIGURE 4, the credit wheel has been moved one incremental dis tance relative to debit wheel 12 and the distance between the wheels has changed from the original to a second distance. This closes switch 40 and energizes motor 45. In FIGURE 5, the credit wheel is moved a second incremental distance relative to debit wheel 12. This moves the wheels to a third distance apart, as tab 44 clears opening 41 and is now resting on the upper surface of the debit wheel. This second step moves switch arm 48a upward closing switch 48. This opens throttle valve 46 allowing the free flow of liquid through hose 47.

As liquid is dispensed and debit wheel 12 reaches the point where there is just one unit of credit left to be dispensed, tab 44 will re-enter opening 41, as shown in FIG- URE 4, and the ratchet wheels will move together far enough to open switch 48. This allows throttle valve 46 to begin restricting the flow of liquid being dispensed before the final volume of liquid purchased is dispensed.

In the embodiment shown, two pairs of tabs, such as those shown in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are employed. They are located on opposite sides of the center of rotation of the wheels and at diiferent radial differences therefrom to allow nearly 360 of rotation of the Wheels relative to each other. Only tab 50' in the credit wheel of this other set is shown in the drawings. Actually, only one inclined tab and one opening are required. They must be on different ratchet wheels, of course. Two are preferred so one will provide an inclined plane along which the other can slide. With or without the other tab, however, the same mechanical advantage is obtained so that the force exerted by solenoid 14 is provided a mechanical advantage for moving the wheels apart and for actuating the switches.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus and structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A control device adaptable for use with a liquid dispensing machine having a motor driven pump for dispensing said liquids and means for controlling the flow of liquid from the machine, comprising, a credit member and a debit member, means mounting the members in parallel relationship for independent movement in the same direction, means for moving the credit member an incremental distance for each unit of credit purchased, means for moving the debit member an incremental distance in the same direction as the credit member was moved each time said means is energized, pulsing means adaptable to be operated by the pump to energize the debit member moving means each time the pump dispenses a volume of liquid equivalent to one unit of credit, and means adaptable to actuate the flow control means when the credit member is moved relative to the debit member to permit the pump to dispense liquid and to de-actuate the flow control means when the debit member has been moved the same distance as the credit member to stop the dispensing of liquid.

2. The control device of claim 1 in which the credit and debit members are wheels and said mounting means mounts the wheels for rotation in the same direction around a comm-on axis.

3. The control device of claim 2 in which the mounting means further mounts at least one of the wheels for movement along said axis of rotation and said flow control actuating means includes cam means for changing the distance between the wheels when the credit wheel is moved initially relative to the debit wheel and for returning the wheels to the original distance apart when the debit wheel has been rotated the same distance as the credit wheel and switch means operable by the change in the original distance between the wheels to actuate the fiow control means and to de-actuate the flow control means when the wheels return to their original distance apart.

4. The control device of claim 3 further provided with flow restricting means for reducing the rate the liquid is dispensed as the debit wheel approaches the end of its rotation.

5. The control device of claim 4 in which the cam means moves the wheels from their original distance apart to a second distance apart when the credit wheel is rotated initially an incremental distance relative to the debit wheel to actuate the flow control means and to a third distance apart when the credit wheel is rotated a second incremental distance relative to the debit wheel and to return the wheels to the second distance apart when the debit wheel has been rotated to Within one incremental distance of the distance moved by the credit wheel and switch means to deaactuate the flow restricting means when the wheels are moved to the third distance apart and to re-actuate the flow restricting means when the wheels are returned to the second distance apart.

6. A control device adapt-able for use with a liquid dispensing machine having a motor driven pump for dispensing said liquids, comprising, a credit wheel and a debit 'wheel, means mounting the wheels in parallel relationship for independent movement in the same direction, means for rotating the credit wheel around said common axis an incremental distance each time said means is energized, pulsing means for energizing said credit wheel rotating means for each unit of credit purchased, means for rotating the debit wheel an incremental distance in the same direction as the credit wheel was rotated each time said means is energized, pulsing means adaptable to be operated by the pump to energize the credit wheel rotating means each time the pump dispenses a volume of liquid energize the pump motor when the credit is moved relative to the debit wheel and to de-ene-rgize the pump motor when the debit Wheel has been rotated the same distance as the credit wheel to stop the dispensing of liquid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,112 10/ 1951 Schneckenburger l94-3 2,914,159 11/1959 Burns 194-1 2,930,464 3/1960 Burns 1941 3,114,443 12/1963 New 194-9 X WALTER SOBIN, Primary Examiner. 

